2015 Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – No. 4 (Oct. 7)

Southern Oregon claims all 20 first-place votes

October 07, 2015

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By Scott Barker, Communications and Sports Information Intern

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Southern Oregon Raiders are the No. 1 team in the fourth regular-season NAIA Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Wednesday. The fifth regular-poll will be released on Oct. 14.

Top 25 Highlights (historical information dates back to 1999):

• Southern Oregon is the unanimous No. 1 pick in this week’s installment. The Raiders earn the top spot for the fifth-straight poll after receiving 20 first-place votes and 560 total points. • There are two new additions to the Top 25 – No. 13 Texas Wesleyan and No. 15 Wayland Baptist (Texas).• This is the first time Texas Wesleyan is in the Top 25.• Westmont (Calif.), formerly No. 23, and Cornerstone (Mich.), formerly No. 25, were the only two teams to drop out of this week’s polls.• College of Idaho highlighted the positive movement, as the Yotes climbed four spots to No. 8. • Oklahoma City had the biggest drop of the poll, falling 15 spots from No. 4 to No. 19.• Southern Oregon has been voted in the top 10 in 15-straight polls, dating back to the 2014 Preseason Top 25. • No. 14 Aquinas (Mich.) has found themselves in the Top 25 for a NAIA-best 150-consecutive polls, dating back to Aug. 22, 2000.• Only two schools have gone the entire season ranked No. 1 – Oklahoma City (2014) and former NAIA member Malone (Ohio) (2007 & 2008.). • Southern Oregon has the most No. 1 rankings of all active NAIA Schools, with 35. Former NAIA member Malone has the most all-time No. 1 rankings with 38. • No. 6 Carroll (Mont.), No. 13 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 2 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), No. 9 Morningside (Iowa), No. 4 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), No. Southern Oregon and St. Francis (Ill.) have been ranked in the top 10 all season. • Cascade Collegiate Conference (Southern Oregon, College of Idaho, No. 23 Oregon Tech and No. 25 Northwest Christian (Ore.)) and Crossroads League (No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 10 Taylor (Ind.), No. 17 Bethel (Ind.) and No. 24 Marian (Ind.)) leads all leagues with four teams represented.

Poll Methodology:

• The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and the Association of Independent Institutions.• The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second-place and so on through the list.• The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low ratings) is removed and the team’s ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appears on.• Teams that receive only one point in the ballot are not considered “receiving votes”• For the complete Top 25 calendar, click here.